Fish Lake Viewing Walkway for Kokanee Salmon Spawning
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Project ID: 4637
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2019
Submitted By:
N/A
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Project Manager: Stan Beckstrom
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Southern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Southern
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Description:
Build a 450' long elevated boardwalk for people to walk on to view kokanee salmon spawning.
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Location:
Along Twin Creeks at Fish Lake, Sevier County, about 40 miles east of Richfield.
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Project Need
Need For Project:
In spring of 2015 the DWR begin stocking kokanee salmon in to Fish Lake. In fall of 2017 the kokanee were mature enough to make a spawning run up Twin Creeks, which is the main tributary to Fish Lake. Hundreds of red kokanee could easily be observed in the stream doing their spawning activities. This is the only kokanee population and spawning run in the southern part of the state. Many people came to the lake to observe the spawning run and it was very popular, especially considering it was the first year it had occurred. There is a need to manage all of these people concentrated during a short time period, along a short section of stream. A good elevated boardwalk, with several viewing platforms is needed to prevent damage to stream banks, trampling of riparian vegetation, and for people to be safe, dry, viewing accessible all and to accomodate more people in the future.
Objectives:
Build an elevated boardwalk for viewing of spawning kokanee salmon.
- Reduce stream side and riparian damage.
- Make it safer and more accessible for people.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
With out the boardwalk people will continue trampling riparian vegeation along stream banks and forming trails that can lead to erosion and stream impacts.
Poor trails could be unsafe for some people and people can get wet while trying to view kokanee spawning.
Relation To Management Plan:
Meets goals and objectives in Fish Lake Fishery Management Plan, 2014, by increasing shore angling opportunities.
Satisfies DWR Resource goal of meeting management plan objectives and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities. Satisfies DWR Constituency goal to achieve broad-based support for division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah; and expand programs to recruit and retain young hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers.
Meets recreational goals in the Fishlake National Forest Plan.
Fire / Fuels:
N/A
Water Quality/Quantity:
Quality - Will help keep sediments out of the stream and into Fish Lake.
Compliance:
NEPA will have to be completed. We are working with the Fishlake National to determine what NEPA will have to be completed.
Methods:
The DWR will design the boardwalk and purchase all of the materials necessary to construct it. Dedicated Hunters and other volunteers will be used to build the walkway. DWR will use equipment we already have for construction.
The boardwalk will be handicap accessible from the group pavillion. It will be 450' long, elevated about 12" above ground level supported by heavy wood posts anchored in concrete. The walkway will be 4' wide with 2 viewing platforms that are 6' x 15' and 3 bridges crossing the stream (see map in images). The walkway and supporting system will be constructed of pressure treated wood. There are also five short sections (300') of 2 rail wood fencing to guide people and discourage them from walking where they shouldn't be.
Monitoring:
Annual inspection and maintenance work will occur.
Partners:
Fishlake National Forest
Future Management:
Outreach and interpretive signing will be added.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
N/A
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $26,000.00 | $0.00 | $26,000.00 | $23,000.00 | $49,000.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials and Supplies | Pressure treated wood, posts, hardware, concrete, etc. | $24,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2019 |
| Motor Pool | Regional vehicle | $2,000.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2019 |
| NEPA | Forest Service | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3,000.00 | 2019 |
| Personal Services (permanent employee) | Project supervision, implementation, NEPA | $0.00 | $0.00 | $5,600.00 | 2019 |
| Other | Dedicated Hunters. Estmate 720 hours to build | $0.00 | $0.00 | $14,400.00 | 2019 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $26,000.00 | $0.00 | $26,000.00 | $23,000.00 | $49,000.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ribbon (Restricted) | BRRF | $12,267.97 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2019 | |
| Habitat Council Account | HCRF | $12,267.92 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2019 | |
| United States Forest Service (USFS) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3,000.00 | 2019 | ||
| Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $5,600.00 | 2019 | ||
| Habitat Council Account | QHCR | $1,464.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2020 | |
| Volunteers - Dedicated Hunters | For building the boardwalk | $0.00 | $0.00 | $14,400.00 | 2019 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| Kokanee Salmon | R3 | |||||
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Habitats
| Habitat | ||||
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| Riverine | ||||
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Project Comments
| Comment | 02/02/2018 | Type: 1 | Commenter: Keith Day |
| Stan, Any plans to include educational signs that may cover more than just kokanee? Keith | |||
| Comment | 02/05/2018 | Type: 1 | Commenter: Stan Beckstrom |
| Keith; We haven't got that far dfown the road to know what the interpretive/educational signing will be. We will work with the FS on it and I'll ask you for ideas. Certainly we should include some other wildlfe like osprey and bald eagles. Thanks for the input. | |||
Completion
Start Date:
01/01/2019
End Date:
09/14/2019
FY Implemented:
2020
Final Methods:
The DWR and Fishlake National Forest worked together to complete all required approvals to build the boardwalk. The boardwalk project was included in the EA for the Fish Lake Marinas project and the EA and Approval Decision was signed by the FS in June 2019. The DWR also secured an ACOE 404 permit and a Stream Channel Alteration permit to build the boardwalk.
The DWR purchased almost all of the materials necessary to construct the boardwalk and hauled them to the site. Almost all of the FY19 funds were expended, but about $1,400.00 was carried over to FY20 and will be used to purchase additional materials needed for the boardwalk.
Sevier County Tourism Office was awarded a $15,000.00 grant from Utah Outdoor Recreation Program (UORG) for the boardwalk. These funds are being used to pay Fishlake NF personnel (seasonals) to do the actual construction work instead of using Dedicated Hunters. The FS started building the boardwalk in July 2019 and the UORG funds will be used in FY20. It is expected to be completed by mid September 2019. Some Dedicated Hunters are being used to help build the boardwalk.
Project Narrative:
The boardwalk is looking great and was completed mid-September. The SRO is planning a kokanee spawning viewing day on September 21.
Future Management:
The Fishlake National Forest will complete yearly inspection and maintenance work on the boardwalk in the future.
Map Features
| ID | Feature Category | Action | Treatement/Type |
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| 6812 | Aquatic/Riparian Treatment Area | Lake/Wetland/Pond Improvements | Embankment repair |
Project Map
